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Archive for Unexplained Deaths

Died 21st March 2014.

Alison Taylor (41) was found dead at her home in Mulberry Walk, Maidenhead, Berkshire on 21st March 2014.

Ms Taylor’s husband Ashley Taylor (42) was arrested on suspicion of murder but was later released on bail.

Thames Valley Police have said they are continuing to treat the death as unexplained at this stage of the investigation.

Ms Taylor was a carer for her wheelchair-bound husband, whom she married in 1995. She had four children who had all left home.

Thames Valley Police were called to the house at 8.17pm on 21st March, where they found Ms Taylor’s body. A spokesperson for the force said that a post-mortem carried out on 22nd March was unable to establish a cause of death. Further toxicology tests have been requested by the pathologist.

Ms Taylor had reportedly lived at the house for seven years. She was unemployed, as was her husband.

A neighbour, Katie Allen, said of Ms Taylor: ‘She was as sweet as pie. She did everything for Ashley and she doted on her kids and grandchildren. When I spoke to her on Friday last week, she was looking forward to the birth of another grandchild. She seemed really happy and in good spirits. I just can’t get my head around what has happened.”

A resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “Nobody knows the circumstances yet. There were flowers left outside the house earlier.” She added “She wasn’t disabled but her husband was and she would look after him.”

Neighbours have been reported as saying Ms Taylor did “absolutely everything” for her husband.

A note on a bunch of flowers left outside the house read: “Alison, RIP. A beautiful woman in chains. XXX.”

Another neighbour said: “She would barely speak. When they came out of the house and I said “Hi Alison”, she would sort of mutter hello back and he would just stare at her. Something wasn’t right.” She added: “She did absolutely everything for him. He couldn’t do anything for himself. I know they were childhood sweethearts who had been together since they were 17, but they did have problems.”

An elderly neighbour who did not want to be named told the Daily Mail there were “fierce arguments that the whole street could hear”. She said: “They had lived here for a long time and Ashley seemed all right at first, but I think it was about a year ago that he started to use a wheelchair. Alison cared for him full-time. She was a tiny woman, very thin and fragile looking. They didn’t go out much and were very reclusive.”

There are other reports that Ms Taylor’s husband has been unable to walk for three years.

Note: This report was drawn from reports in the Independent and Daily Mail.

Died 13th November 2013

Susan Bowles (55) was found dead on 13th November 2013 in the stairwell of a block of flats in George Street, Hastings, East Sussex. Police were called to the flats by neighbours at 10.35pm. She died as the result of a head injury. Her death is unexplained, but the police no longer consider the death to be suspicious.

At first a 61-year-old man from Hastings was arrested on suspicion of murder, and bailed pending further inquiries. A murder investigation took place. However, the police later reported, in February 2014, that no further action was to be taken and the man’s bail was cancelled.

After Ms Bowles’ death, her family said: “We are shocked and saddened at the tragic news.” At that time, Detective Chief Inspector Jon Fanner of Sussex Police confirmed that the arrested man was known to the dead woman, but would not comment on the nature of the relationship. He confirmed that the police were treating “the death as unexplained” and “keeping an open mind as to what has happened.”

Detectives appealed for witnesses as they tried to trace the movements of the victim over the last three-and-a-half hours of her life. DCI Fanner said at the time that he was “keen to speak to anyone who was in the area and may have seen the woman… or who saw or heard anything suspicious.”

Local councillor John Hodges, commented soon after Ms Bowles’ death. He was quoted in the Argus as follows: “It’s exactly the news that Hastings doesn’t want and has never wanted. By and large the record on crime is very good and the last two police commanders have driven crime levels downwards and that trend continues downwards. Contrary to what the Daily Mail and other newspapers say, we are not a crime-ridden town.” He added “All the information seems to indicate this is a domestic incident and not something the police can legislate for. George Street is a busy thoroughfare, it’s not an empty or desolate street. It’s probably the busiest street in Old Hastings and at times the busiest in town. It’s like the social centre of the town, full of busy restaurants, public houses and independent shops.”

Note: this report was drawn from reports in the Argus and the BBC.

FOD Comment: We are deeply perturbed at the statement attributed to local councillor John Hodges, which was made directly after the report of her death. It expressed no horror at the loss of this woman’s life nor made any statement of sympathy or condolence. Councillor Hodges’s words suggest he is more concerned about the reputation of Hastings, than about the death of a woman who lived there. We are also greatly troubled that he referred to the death, which was then believed to be a homicide as a “domestic incident” and “not not something the police can legislate for”. Domestic homicide is a major killer of women, just as illegal as any other form of homicide. It should be taken seriously by police and the courts – and all politicians. Such homicides very often result from an escalating pattern of abuse and domestic violence by the abuser. Early and effective intervention by police and the courts could prevent such deaths and many injuries. Around two women die each week at the hands of partners and ex-partners. Councillor Hodges should be ashamed.

We repeat that though there still seems no certainty about how and why this particular victim died, the police no longer consider the death to be suspicious.